Ignition-timer



E. B. JACOBSON.

IGNITION TIMER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1919.

1,371,972. Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

5 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR: m Oka /L I B y EiiVjREfiJA60BQM 7 gym I I A T7 RRE UNITED STATES PA TENT *olnuciz.

EDWARD B. JACOBSON, 0F PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO J AND B MANUFACTURING COMPANY. OF PITTSFIELD. MASSACHUSETTS. A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IGNITION-TIMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15. 1921.

Application filed September 13, 1919. Serial No. 323.572.

To all whom it may canoe-m:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. J ACOBSON, a citizen of the United States. residing at Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition-Timers. of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to ignition timing apparatus adapted for use in connection with explosive engines, and particularly concerns structural improvements in the brush or contact-roll and its mounting carried by the rotary portion;

The primary object of the invention is to simplify the construction and to increase the efficiency and durability of the device, and these results are accomplished by the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and shown and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of an ignition timer embodying the present invention and operatively mounted upon a driven shaft; Fig. 2, a face view of the same, the front portion of the housing being cut away; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section of the rotor portion mounted as shown in Fig. 1, with the casing removed; Fig. 4, a vertical cross-section of the rotor assembly on a plane coincident with the inner face of the outer radial carrier-arm; Fig. 5, a cross-sectional View of the outer end of the contact-arm through the center of the brush or contact-roll; Fig. 6, a detail side elevation of the contact-roll supporting pin; and Fig. 7, a'bottom plan View of the contact arm.

The mechanismherein illustrated is designed for use in connection with a fourcylinder explosive engine having a geardrivon cam-shaft operated by the main engine shaft. but it should be understood, however, that the invention is applicable for use with motors having a different number of explosive cylinders. and may be otherwise mounted and driven.

This invention may be adapted to any suitable form of housing or casing. the casing 1 herein illustrated being adjustably mounted on the front of the engine housing 2 and arranged to inclose the front end of a cam-shaft 3, which is preferably geared to the main engine shaft (not shown) and extends through a suitable opening in the wall of the engine housing.

The rear end of the casing 1 is open and seated in a circular recess 4 provided on the face of the engine housing 2, said recess being adapted to prevent eccentric displacement of the casing. Forward displacement of the casing is prevented preferably by a spring clamp 5 removably secured at its rear end to a stud or bolt 6 fixed to the wall of the engine housing 2, and engaging at its opposite end the outer extremity of the reduced forward extension of the front of the casing, which has a central depression to receive a boss 7 provided on the clamp 5. Axial movement of the casing for regulating the time of ignition is controlled by a lateral arm 8 exteriorly mounted on the casing and provided with a bearing 9 to receive a control-rod (not shown).

lVithin the casing l is an insulation ring 10 provided at regular intervals with arcuate contacts 11, 11, which are embedded on is inner rim and suitably connected to separate terminals 12, 12. etc. arranged on the outside of the casing 1, for connection with the primary circuit of separate induction coils.

Mounted to rotate with the shaft 3 within I against axial movement on the shaft by a transversely arranged removable pin 14 projecting through a suitable opening in the shaft and extending at one of its ends into a slot 15 provided on the outer rim of the carrier. The pin 14 is secured against endwise displacement by a cup washer 16 fitted over the outer end of the carrier and inclosing the exposed end of the pin, the reduced outer end 17 of the shaft being projected through the cup washer 16 and suitably threaded to receive a pair of nuts 18, 19, which are employed in conjunction with a fiat washer 20, carried on the reduced end of the shaft and engaging the face of the cup washer. to secure the latter in position.

The carrier 13 is provided with a pair of fixed radial arms 21, 21, arranged in spaced parallel relation to each other and pivotally supporting at their outer ends a contactarm comprising a pair of oppositely arranged plates 22, 23, Which are secured at their inner ends to the armsbya trans versely arranged pin 24 extendlng into su1t-.

able openingsprovidedin the plates. one end 25 of said pin being preferably reduced to provide a shoulder bearing against the outer plate 22 to prevent displacement of the pin outward, displacementof the pin in the opposite direction being prevented preferably by burring said end 25 at its outer extremit y. l-

' As shown, the plates 22, 23, are curved .in outline and secured together centrally by =point.v T o prevent rotation in its bearings the pin 27 is knurled or milled at its outer p of the plate 22 at opposite end (see Figs. 5 and 6) and driven into the opening provided in the plate 22, while endwise displacement ofthe pin in either direction is prevented preferably by means of an annular groove 29 provided on said outer end, a prick punch being employedafter setting of the pin to force portions of the metal said groove. I h

Revolubly mountedon the bearin -pin 21 is a brush or roller 31"adapted' to'be swung on the contact-arm toward and away. from I the carrier 13 and arranged normally to travel upon the inner rim of the insulation ring 10 for successive engagement with the contact-elements 11, 11, etc. A yielding con- 7 tact of the roller 31 with the ring lOis provided by means of a torsion-spring 32,

which is carried centrally upon the contact arm supporting pin 24 and operates normally to impel the outer end of the contactarm outward, one end of the spring being the bridge member 26-and the opposite end against the carrier 13.'- (See Fig. 4.) When the rotor assembly is removed for any reason' from the cam-shaft 13, the. outward spring of the contact-arm undertheimpu-lse of the spring 32 is limited by positive stops.

in theform of arcuate shoulders 33, 33, peripherally arranged on opposite sides of the carrier 13 and adapted to be engaged at the I predetermined point of movement by in? wardly extending feet 34, 35, provided on the inner margins of the plates 22, 23.

Undue wear of the engaging parts is prevented by the application of a suitable fluid lubricant in accordance with the usual practice, the lubricant being preferably intropoints 30, 30, into duced into casing through a closable inlet 36 provided in 'i ts front wall.

. The essential merits'of-the foregoing incarrier, said arm being formed of oppositely arranged plates rigidly secured together by.

a bridge-member forming. an integral connection-with each of the plates and havingv a web designed to oppose the spreading ofthe plates at their inner'margins. I

2.;In an ignition timer, the combination [with a rotor portion having a lateral extentension members and having a freeend arranged to sw ng toward'and away .from the sion portion, of a contact-roll supporting arm pivoted on said extension portion and having a free end forming a pairof jaws arranged to swing toward and away from the carrier; an axle mounted to extend at opposite ends intoopenings provided in said aws, said axle being milled on at least one end and designed to be driven into the jaw to prevent rotation of the axle; a contactroll rotatably mounted on said axle; and locking 'means" for positively preventing endwise displacement of the axle.

. 3. In an'ignition timer, the combination with a casing and contact-elements mounted in the casing; of a rotor portion mounted to move in the 'casing, and comprising a carrier;.'an arm on the carrier; a separate arm pivoted to said carrier arm' and having a free end provided with an apertured jaw adapted to swing toward and away from the contact-elements; an axle extending at arranged to bear against the underside of opposite ends into the sides of the jaw and having an annular groove in one end; a registering member provided on the margin of the opening'in one side of the jaw and arranged to take into said groove in the axle.

to prevent endwise displacement of the axle; a roller mounted to rotate on the axle; and means for normally impellmg the free end of the pivotal arm outward for successive engagement of the roller with the contact-.

elements. 7

. In testimony whereof hereunto affix my signature.

. EDWARDB. JACOBSON. Witnesses:

' JNo. J. WHITTLESEY,

LE ROY SHAW.

65 i vention reside'principally in the simplicity I i 

